4 ms·
A better example of phrases that mean different things on either side of the Atlantic is what it means to "table" a proposal. In the US it means "kill it", but
by burgerbrain 16y ago
A better example of phrases that mean different things on either side of the Atlantic is what it means to "table" a proposal. In the US it means "kill it", but in the UK it means "bring it up". If an American says "could care less", they're just being incorrect. ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_%28verb%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_%28verb%29
- ma2rten 16y agoGetting pissed is also a good example, imo
- corin_ 16y agoIn England that can mean either way, depends entirely on context.
- brc 16y agoOnly because of the importation of the American version via movies/tv. A pissed american will hit you. A pissed englishman will fall over. Edit : the correct English term is 'pissed off'. As in 'he pissed me off by going to the pub and getting pissed'.
- willmacdonald 16y agoMy favourite phrase which has radically different meanings for Brits and Americans is "I'm going outside to smoke a fag."
- davedevelopment 16y agoIt's not uncommon to hear "Can I bum a fag?", which translates to "Please could I have one of your cigarettes?"
- mturmon 16y ago"could care less" is a shortening of "could not care less", and the latter phrase is correct. the words themselves don't mean anything any more, it's a stock phrase. i think the sentiment is, "I care so little that I don't even want to use all the words needed to say how little I care".